Unloading apparatus.



B. BBRTKE.

UNLOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY31,1909.

Patenta June 14, 1910,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

hmmag Anbnw a GRAHAM BO. PunmumoGRAPuENa wAsmNcnON. D: C

B. BERTKEA. UNLOAD'ING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY31,1909.

961,336. Patented June 14,1910.

@munten witmmoao ANDREW a. GRAHAM c0 PMoTO-LrrNnGnAFnEns. wAsmNGYoN. D C

atm,

B. BBRTKE. UNLOADING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909. 961,336. V

Patented June 14, 1910.

a SHEETS-SHEET s.

ANonsw a ummm co. PHOTO-LINOGRAWERS wASmNGTDN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD BERTKE, OF CRANBERRY PRAIRIE, OHIO.

UNLOADING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BERNARD BERTKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cranberry Prairie, in -the county of Mercer and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in UnloadingApparatus, of which the following is a specication, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to unloading apparatus and is in the nature of animprovement upon Patent No. 779,113, granted to me Jany. 3, 1905.

The object of the present invention is to provide an unloadingapparatus, of the same type shown and described in that patent, in whichthe several operating parts will be so arranged that they may beoperated from a single point; to provide an improved hoisting mechanism,by means of which the loaded wagon-bed can be hoisted and dumped; toprovide means for taking care of a surplus of rope without encumberingthe hoisting drums, thereby enabling the wagon to be unloaded atdifferent distances from the hoisting mechanism; to provide improvedmeans for connecting the hoisting ropes to the wagon-bed; and further,to improve the details of construction and the arrangement of theapparatus as a whole to secure a more compact device having a highdegree of efficiency.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novelvfeatures and in certain combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing myunloading apparatus connected to a wagon-bed, ready to hoist the same;Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same before it has been attached tothe wagon-bed; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the wagon-bed showing thestraps for connect-ing the hoisting ropes thereto; Fig. 4 is anelevation of the operating devices showing the several drums in section;and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner of dumping the loadedwagon-bed.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as installed in a corn-crib, in which the bins, 1,are arranged on opposite sides of the central driveway 2 and areprovided in the walls adjacent said driveway with openings 3, throughwhich the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 31, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

serial No. 510,578.

corn is dumped into the bins. These openings are preferably of a lengthlslightly greater than the length ofthe ordinary wagon-bed and arearranged near the top of the bin. The number o-f openings provided ineach bin depends entirely upon the length of the bin and may, of course,be varied without affecting the character of the dumping apparatus.

The operating mechanism for the hoisting apparatus may be mounted at anysuitable point within the corn-crib, but I find it more convenient tomount the saine upon the cross-beams 4 of the crib near one end thereof,as, in this manner, the mechanism is removed from the driveway and doesnot interfere with the passage of the wagon through the crib. Thisoperating mechanism, as here shown, comprises a frame 5 which, asstated, is mounted on the crossbeams 4 of the crib. Journaled in theupper portion of the frame 5 is a shaft 6 having means for rotating thesame, such as a gear 7 rigidly secured thereto near one of the sidemembers of the frame. This gear meshes with a pinion 8 mounted on ashaft 9 which is also journaled in the frame 5 and which has at itsopposite end a gear 10 which, in turn, meshes with a pinion 11 carriedby a short shaft 12 which is journaled in one of the side members of theframe 5 and extends beyond the outer side of that frame where it isprovided with an operating crank 13.

Rigidly mounted on the drum 6 is a double drum 14 divided by a partition15 into two parts, each of which has near its outer end an annular rowof pins 16 eX- tending some distance from the surface thereof andserving both to retain the rope on the drum and as a fastening means forthe rope, as hereinafter described. Loosely mounted on the shaft 6, neareach end 0f the drum, are spools or small drums 17, these spools beingarranged, in the one instance, between the end of the drum and the framemember and, in the other instance, between the end of the drum and thegear 7. Each spool has suitable guides at the opposite edges thereof toretain the rope thereon and, in the present instance, these guidesconsist of two annular rows of pins 18 arranged near the opposite edgesof the drums. Cables 19 and 2O are secured to the respective spools 17and are wound about the same for a portion of their length and are thencarried over onto the drum 14 and passed about one of the pins 16 whichserves to secure the rope to the drum and cause the same to be woundabout the drum when the shaft 6 is rotated. The ropes 19 and 2O extendforwardly from the drum and over guides or pulleys 21 and 22 which aresuspended above the driveway 2, preferably from a longitudinal beam 23a,to which they are detachably secured by means of hooks 23. The cables 19and 20 extend downwardly from said guides or pulleys 21 and 22 and haveat their lower ends means for securing the same to a wagon-bed, such asthe hooks 24, which are adapted to engage a ring or eye secured to thewagon-bed.

The ring or eye, to which the hooks 24 of the cables 19 and 2() areconnected, may be secured to the wagon-bed in any suitable manner. Ashere shown, a strap or bail 25 is formed to fit about each end of thewagonbed and to extend some distance above the top of the same, thisupper portion of the strap being provided with an aperture or eye 26which may be engaged by one of the hooks 24. These straps are shaped tofit snugly against the sides and bottom of the wagon-bed and aredetachably secured thereto by means of bolts 27, which extend throughthe bottom of the bed and through the strap which is retained thereon bymeans of nuts. The bolts may be allowed to remain permanently in thewagon-bed and the straps may be readily attached to and removed from thebed by simply removing the nuts from the bolts. A cross bar 28 isarranged between the side members of each strap near the upper endsthereof to prevent the same from pulling together or collapsing underthe weig'ht of the load, which is suspended from the center of the strapor bail. The cross bar is here shown as resting upon the top of thewagon-bed and as notched to receive the sides of the strap, thus makinga firm construction which will not jar loose.

Secured to the lower portion of each side of the wagon-bed near thelower end thereof is a hook or bolt 29, to which are detachably securedthe opposite ends of a rope or strap 30, the rope being preferablyprovided at its opposite ends with loops 31 to enable it to be readilydetached from either bolt. The rope 30 is adapted to be engaged by ahook 32 carrying the lower end of a rope 33 which extends upwardly overa guide or pulley 34 supported from a hook 35 secured to the beam 23a,thence about a drum 36 which is rotated to dump the wagon-bed, as willbe hereinafter described. The drum 36 may be actuated in any suitablemanner to wind up or slack olf the rope 33, but as a matter ofconvenience, T prefer that this drum should be operated from the sameoperating mechanism from which the hoisting drum 14 is operated, and, tothis end, I have extended the shaft 6 beyond one side of the frame 5 andhave mounted the drum 36 rigidly thereon. The drum 36 is provided nearone edge thereof with an annular row of pins 37, which serve both asfastening means for the end of the rope and to retain the rope thereonas it is wound about the drum. Then the rope 33 is not in use the hook32 is attached to a staple or ring 38 secured to the wall of one of thebins and a weight 39 is connected to the other end of the rope 33 whichis preferably provided with an eye or hook 40. The rope 33 extends overthe drum 36 and the weight 39 serves to hold the same taut both when itis connected to the ring 38 and while the Wagon-bed is being hoisted.Before the wagon-bed is hoisted one of the loops 31 of the rope 30 isdetached from its bolt 29 on that side of the wagon opposite the sidetoward which it is to be dumped. This loop is connected to the hook 32of the rope 33 and the rope passed about the drum 36 and the weightconnected thereto. Thus, as the wagonbed is elevated, the rope 33 willbe maintained taut. When the wagon-bed has reached the position fromwhich it is to be dumped the weight is disconnected from the end of therope and the rope passed about the drum 36 in a direction opposite thedirection in which the ropes 19 and 2O are wound on the drum 14 andsecured to the drum by engaging the eye 40 with one of the pins 37.

In o-rder to support the wagon-bed in its elevated positionindependent-ly of the hoisting mechanism, two cross bars 41 aresuspended from the side walls of the bins near the opposite ends of thewagon-bed. These bars are suspended from such points that, when allowedto swing free, they will be spaced apart a distance less than thedistance of the wagon-bed and are of a length greater' than the width ofthe wagon-bed. They are normally spaced apart a distance greater thanthe length of the wagon-bed by means of ropes 42 which are connectedthereto and are wound about a drum 43, this drum being, in the presentinstance, mounted in the frame 5 and provided with an operating crank44, by means of which the drum can be actuated to wind up or slack offthe ropes 42 and thereby allow the cross bars 41 to move the wagon-bedwhen in its elevated position or to withdraw the same from beneath thewagon-bed.

When a loaded wagon is driven into the crib the hoisting ropes 19 and 20are connected thereto, as above described, the dumping rope 33 isconnected to that end of the rope 30 on the side opposite the sidetoward which the load is to be dumped. The cross bars 41 will benormally withdrawn to points beyond the end of the wagon-bed. The drum14 is then actuated through the train of gearing, 7, 8, 10 and 11 tohoist the loaded wagon-bed. This train of gearing is of the multiplyingtype and is such as to enable one man to hoist the wagon-bed unassisted.When the bed has been elevated to a point substantially even with theopenings 3 in the bins, the ropes 42 are slacked off the drums 43,thereby allowing the cross bars 41 to drop beneath the respective endsof the wagon-bed. The drum 14 is then allowed to move in a reversedirection a distance sufficient to place the weight of the wagon-bedupon the cross bars, which serve to support the same. The weight 39 isnow disconnected from the dumping rope 33 and this rope is wound aboutthe drum 36 in a reverse direction, as above described. The shaft 6 isthen rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which it wasrotated to hoist the load, thereby winding the rope 33 on the drum 36and slacking of the ropes 19 and 20 from the drum 14, and, in thismanner, causing the wagon-bed to be turned on its side and raised to theposition shown in Fig. 5, the hoisting ropes being slack/ed osuiiiciently to permit of the load assuming this position. Bydisconnecting the rope 30 from one side of the bed the bed may be turnedinto the position shown in Fig. 5, which is such as to incline the lowerside of the wagon-bed toward the bin and discharge all the corntherefrom. After the load is dumped the shaft 6 is operated in a forwarddirection again and the hoisting ropes wound upon the drum 14 to returnthe wagon-bed to itsnormal position and to lift the weight of the sameoff the cross bars. The drum 43 is then actuated to withdraw the crossbars from beneath the wagon-bed and the hoisting ropes 19 and 2() areslacked oif to allow the wagon-bed to return to its position upon thewagon. The rope 33 is then disconnected therefrom and the loose end ofthe rope 30 attached to its bolt or hook 29 and the hoisting ropes 19and 20 detached from the eyes 26. of the strap 25 and allowed to hangfree or be secured to suitable fastening devices in the sides of thebin, as shown in Fig. 2.

In a long crib it is often necessary to dump the corn into the bins atdifferent point-s along the length of the crib. To enable this apparatusto dump the load at different points it is only necessary to provideduplicate sets of hooks 23, each set being arranged adjacent to one ofthe openings 3. After enough corn has been dumped through the openingsin the bins on each side of the driveway at one point, the several guidepulleys may be detached from their respective hooks and moved to thenext set of hooks.

I have shown and described the apparatus as installed within a corn-criband as adapted for dumping loads of corn, but, ob-

viously, it could be utilized in other manners. It could be installed instorehouses of different kinds or at any point where it is desired tounload quantities of material. Further, the location of the actuatingmechanism, i. e., the hoisting drums, etc., is an arbitrary one and thismechanism can be placed in the most convenient position. Further, I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details ofconstruction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drum, hoistingropes operated thereby, means for connecting said ropes to the ends of awagon-bed, cross bars supported normally in an elevated position andadapted to be swung under the wagonbed to support the same at the pointat which it is to be dumped, means for turning said wagon-bed about alongitudinal axis while supported on said cross bars to discharge itscontents, and a single means for actuating the hoisting' drum and theturning means.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, ahoisting drum mounted thereon, hoisting ropes operated thereby andadapted to be detachably connected to the ends of a wagon-bed,supporting bars arranged to be swung under the wagon-bed to support thesame in an elevated position, a second drum mounted on said shaft, arope connected to said second drum and arranged to be connected to oneside of said wagon-bed to turn the same while supported by said crossbars to discharge its contents, and means for actuating said shaft.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, ahoisting drum mounted thereon, hoisting ropes operated thereby andadapted to be detachably connected to the ends of a wagon-bed supportingbars arranged to be swung under the wagon-bed to support the same in anelevated position, a second drum mounted on said shaft, a rope connectedto said second drum and wound about the same in a direction opposite thedirection in which the hoisting rope is wound about the hoisting drum,the rope connected to said second drum being adapted to have its otherend connected to one side of said wagon-bed to turn the same todischarge its contents, and means for rotating said shaft in oppositedirections.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a hoisting drum,loosely mounted spools arranged at the opposite ends of said drum,hoisting ropes wound about said spools, then passed-about said drum andconnected thereto, said hoisting ropes being adapted to be detachablyconnected to the opposite ends of a wagon-bed, cross bars arranged tosupport said wagon-bed in an elevatedl position, and means for turningsaid wagon-bed while supported by said cross bars to discharge itscontents.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a shaftjournaled in said frame, a gear secured to said shaft, a hoisting drummounted on said shaft, hoisting ropes operated by said drum and adaptedto be detachably connected to the ends of a wagon-bed, a train ofmultiplying gearing mounted on said frame for rotating said shaft, crossbars arranged to be swung beneath said wagon-bed to support the same inan elevated position, and means for turning said wagon-bed while sosupported to discharge its contents.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a shaftjournaled in said frame, a gear secured to said shaft, a hoisting drummounted on said shaft, hoisting ropes operated by said drum and adaptedto be detachably connected to the ends of a wagon-bed, a train ofmultiplying gearing mounted on said frame for rotating said shaft, crossbars arranged to be swung beneath said wagon-bed to support the same inan elevated position, a second drum journaled in said frame, ropesconnected to said cross bars and wound about said drum to control themovement of said cross bars, and means for turning said wagon-bed whilesupported on said cross bars to discharge its contents.

7. In an apparatus of the character de- 'scribed, the combination, witha hoisting mechanism comprising ropes, of a wagonbed, straps extendingabout said wagon-bed near each end thereof and having recesses,

projections secured to said wagon-bed and adapted to enter saidrecesses, and means for connecting said ropes to said straps.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with awagon-bed, and hoisting mechanism comprising ropes adapted to be securedto the opposite ends of said wagon-bed, of hooks secured to the oppositesides of said wagon-bed, a rope detachably connected at its oppositeends to the respective hooks, a turning rope adapted to be connected toone end of the rope connected to said hooks, and means for actuatingsaid turning rope.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with awagon-bed, a cross rope extending beneath said wagon and detachablyconnected to the opposite sides thereof, and straps extending about eachend of said wagon-bed, of a hoisting drum, hoisting ropes operated bysaid drum and adapted to be connected to said straps, a second drum, aturning rope arranged to be actuated by said second drum and adapted tohave one end connected to one end of said cross rope, and means forsimultaneously actuating said hoisting drum and said turning drum.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD BERTKE.

Vitnesses:

JOHN Gr. RoMER, LORETTA REINHARD.

